Elite junior running back Jameel Poteat visited Pitt over the weekend and he spent much of his time hanging out with Dion Lewis.

As a freshman at Pitt last year Lewis rushed for nearly 1,800 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Poteat had a blast spending time with Lewis, but will the presence of such an accomplished young running back on Pitt's roster help or hurt the Panthers' chances with the junior from Harrisburg (Pa.) Bishop McDevitt?

"We were talking about that," Poteat said of himself and everyone at Pitt. "People were questioning me, asking, 'Why are you still visiting Pitt? They've got Dion.' Not many people know that Dion's going to be eligible for the draft next year. If he has a good year he's going to leave. If he doesn't have a good year that will be okay for me, too.

"(Dave) Wannstedt runs a great pro-style offense and I'd still be getting carries. I could learn the offense and become a better player ... a better student of the game. I could study how he (Lewis) runs. Plus, look at Mark Ingram and (Trent) Richardson and see how they did it. There are pros and cons in everything. I really don't see anything wrong with (both being there). There's going to be competition everywhere I go."

Poteat was in town to check out the Panthers' spring practice routine. He was impressed with how Pitt goes about things. Poteat is already very familiar with the Panthers' coaching staff and what the school has to offer, but each trip to the school offers him an opportunity to learn something new.

"I was there for spring practice and really to look at the campus and all the academic stuff," he said. "I hung out with some of the players. I had a real good time.

"I came with my mom and I spent a lot of time with Dion. I really didn't know too many people up there. I met a lot of the guys and had a wonderful time. They feel like family."

Poteat is now saying he plans on visiting Florida and USC at the beginning of the summer, though his father has not yet finalized those plans.